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Friday, March 16, 2018

By the time Day 3 - Sunday and my second presentation rolled around at 4:45pm I was breathless from exhaustion and excitement. I thought no-one would turn up to hear me on the graveyard shift but I was delighted to have a nearly full room.

I was out of puff by the time Jennie Fairs (L) introduced me on Sunday

I had a wonderful five days in Sydney catching up with genimates at the two day pre-Congress registration and at the first three days of the event.

Three happy young genies at Congress

On Day 4 - Monday I gave in to my asthma, called my doctor, attended the first morning sessions and left for home. I was sentenced to bedrest for a few days. This is quite frustrating as I have so much to share but I need to recuperate for our next travel adventure which is just around the corner.

I want to shower accolades on the Congress organisers for having the courage to select a world class venue to showcase our event. The marvellous volunteers, the exhibitors, the speakers and most of all my genimates came together in friendship to make the experience so memorable for all involved.

Tempatations

The standouts for me were Kerry Farmer with her DNA stats, Paul Milner on 17th and 18th Century Research, Liz Rushen on Mr Marshall's Immigrants and Judy G Russell on Copyrights and Copywrongs. For energy and enthusiasm Thom Reed from Familysearch took the cake. I was disappointed that while some of the speakers had valuable information to convey their fumbling with notes distracted from their talks. I was disappointed to miss Lisa Louise Cooke's final keynote as I know this would have been a knockout.

Paul Milner - a confident engaging speaker

I have gained much new learning to apply - when I finally get around to putting it into practice I will blog about it here.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Only 620 genies were able to attend the main event on the Australasian geneacalendar last weekend in Sydney. Those of use who attended #Congress_2018 (or the15th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry) were treated to an educational extravaganza by a bevy of the best local and overseas speakers.

Quite a number of genies have blogged or shared videos about their experiences at Congress. In this post I will share links to those public posts I have found so that you can learn about what happened at Congress.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Those people who saw me leaping around the podium at #Congress_2018 would say "there goes an extrovert".

In Extrovert Mode at Congress

They are wrong. If I have a role to play like welcoming people to an event or addressing a crowd I am in my element but when I am "Just Jill" I am a rather shy old girl, I don't like big parties and occasions where I am thrown into groups of strangers. I love my own company and can happily spend days by myself.

I recently read this excerpt from a blog post that describes me - I am a true introvert.

"A true introvert is not a "shy person". No. Introverts often have very vibrant personalities, and can appear to be the life of the party. The difference is that we need plenty of "alone time" to recharge. Once our energy is spent there needs to be some solitude in which to build our social energy back up. Also, we like to get to the point. This means that we love conversation- as long as it isn't "small talk". If we aren't interested in the weather or some sporting event, we check out."

Friday, March 9, 2018

I spent my days connecting with genimates at they took advantage of the #Congress_2018 pre-registration offered by The Society of Australian Genealogists. The registration event took place right next door to to the home of the Society, Richmond Villa in the historic Glover Cottages. Society President, Martyn Killion, had organised beautiful weather and Executive Officer, Heather Garnsey, organised some catering. While fellow volunteers from the Society dispensed conference badges and bags my role was a social one. I was on hand to offer a cuppa and cake and to chat with those who had tramped along Kent Street to the Cottages.

Several folk who had other things on their agendas popped in, grabbed their registration paraphernalia and took off but most lingered for the chat, cuppa and cake. Some even stayed for a few hours because the atmosphere in the courtyard was so convivial. The sense of community was evident as people who came along as strangers made new friends. I could see my aim of this Congress being a friendly affair being fulfilled. It made this old genie's heart sing.

I loved being on hand to reconnect with genimates some of whom I hadn't seen for a few months or years and to meet in person so many of my online mates from our Congress Facebook Group. A personal highlight was meeting for the first time a 3rd cousin I had connected with via DNA.

Meeting my third cousin for the first time

Of course I had my phone on hand to take some happy snaps to capture the atmosphere.